||The Cradle of Nubian Civilisation||

Candake The Nubian queens, The "Candake 'candace': "The Nubian Woman who got the Roman Emperor to his KNEES!" "Nubian princess could also become the sole rulers of the Kingdom of Meroe. the name of these rulers-queens was Candake(or Candace). the word survives today in English as the woman's name "Candace". One of the most famous of all the Candakes was the Nubian woman generally identified as Amanirenas, who lived shortly after 30 B.C." "Marching at the head of her army, Amanirenas reached the strategic city of Qasr Ibrim, south of the Egyptian city of Aswan. There she confronted the Roman general Petronius, who told her that Emperor Augustus was willing to lay aside the arms if Amanirenas would negotiate a settlement with him. The Candake agree. She sent her ambassadors to the Greek Island of Samos to meet with the representatives of Rome. The Roman historian Strabo records the results of the meeting with these words: The meroitic Ambassadors obtained everything for which they asked. ANd the Roman Emperor even remitted the taxes that he had levied on the region. " -Dr.(Ph D)Robert Steven Bianch ( the museum professional ,architect ,arachaeologist and scholar)in his book "THE NUBIANS"

Piye(Piankhy) "The crowning of Piye in ca. 732 BC marked the beginning of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egyptian history. In capturing Egypt and adding it to his own kingdom, Piye united the entire Nile Valley into one state from Meroe to the Mediterranean Sea--for the first time in history ( see map). He generously appointed four of the former kings as governors of their territories to rule for him in Egypt, including the troublesome Great Chief of the West in Sais. He then returned to Napata in triumph loaded with the spoils of his campaign and with tribute from his new vassals. "

Tahraqo(Taharqa/Taharka) "Taharqa succeeded his brother as pharaoh in ca. 690 BC. He ruled for twenty-six years, the first sixteen of which were filledwith brilliant achievement. He was a prolific builder in Memphis and Thebes, especially at the Temple of Amun at Karnak. He also rebuilt or erected anew temples and shrines throughout Nubia. He was a very capable ruler, often the model of an Egyptian pharaoh, and some archaeologists would argue that he led Egypt through its last stage of outstanding and independent cultural success. " "..when it became clear that he-Taharqa- would be crowned king of Egypt in 690 BC., he decided to send for his mother, who was living in the palace at Napata. She made the journey of more than 1,200 miles (1,930 km) to the Egyptian city of Memphis(near modern Cairo) to be at his side on this festive occassion. Taharka recorded his mother's feelings in a hieroglyphic inscription: "She was thirlled to see me ypon the throne of Egypt!" Dr.Bianchi

Nubian Gold "Precious Metals and Stone. Egyptian interests in Nubia were always driven by economics. The one factor that chiefly characterized Egypt's relationship with Nubia through most of their history was exploitation. Nubia's most important resource for Egypt was precious metal, including gold and electrum. The gold mines of Nubia were located in certain valleys and mountains on either side of the Nile River, although the most important mining center was located in the Wadi Allaqi. That valley extended eastward into the mountains near Qubban (about 107 km. south of Elephantine). Nubia was also an important source of valuable hard stone and copper, both of which were necessary for Egypt's monumental building projects." " The gold mines were now extensively worked. Inscriptions from the 18th. Dynasty record large quantities of precious metal recieved, subdivided into 'Gold of Wawat' and 'Gold of Kush', and wall-apintings of some Theban officials include scenes of Nubian presenting gold to the king. The extent to which the Egyptians identified Nubia with its most desirable product is reflected in one of the viceroy's secondary titles, 'Overseer of Gold Lands of the Lord of the two lands'......" Taylor

Fine Ware "..Unquestionably the finest achievement of the Meroitic craftsman is the pottery, which is justly celebrated for its technical excellence and aesthetic appeal. The most striking are the wheelmade "fine' wares- bowels, vases and cups of surprisingly thin fabric, painted in several colors or impressed with small ornamental stamps. Contemporary with these are 'utility' wares made of coarser red fabric with a varity of forms including tall amphorae, necked vases and globular pots.." Taylor

Nubian Goddess "Ba" statue of a woman representing the souls of the dead as human-headed birds. A typical of later Meroitic Sculpture with it's simplified treatment of the bodily forms and the prominence given to the eyes. Egypt and Nubia - John H.Taylor - British Museum

Nubian Crown(to all Nubian kids) Make a Nubian Crown (by Mira Bartok & Christine Ronan ) The kings and queens of Nubia and Egypt wore magnificiant crowns,clothing, and jewelry. The Nubian crowns were unique in that they had two rearing cobras on the front. This symbol of kingship and power was meant to inspire fear and respect. Make your own Nubian crown and be a king or queen for a day Materials: stencils- about 9 white 81/2"x11" sheets of paper or newspaper, torn into 1" strips-1 cup flour -11/2 cups of water- * rubber ball or round balloon about the size of your head-strip of plain fabric about 2"x5' long -weighted coffee can or box(Big enough to hold the ball or balloon steady while you work)- piece of thin posterboard 5"x61/2" -nonstick cooking spray-*colored markers or paint Directions: 1- Spray the ball or ballooon with nonstick cooking spray. set it in the weighted can or box (see fig. A) 2- Mix the flour and water into a smooth paste in a bowel. Work out all the lumps. 3- Dip the paper strips into the paste and cover about 3/4 of the ball or balloon.(fig. A) Wipe off excess paste frequently. Repeat this process two more times, waiting for the paper to dry between coats. Cover and refrigerate paste between coats. 4- When dry, carefully remove the crown from the ball or balloon. 5- Try the crown on. Trim it to fit your face. Mark and cut ear holes as in fig. B 6- Decorates the crown and fabric strip with markers and stencils. If you use newspaper instead of white paper, then decorate with stencils and paint. Tie the fabric around your crown. Draw the cobra stencil on postboard and glue it to the front (fig. C) Click here to view image Copyright �1995 Mira Bartók and Christine Ronan - Good Years Books 'Ancient Egypt and Nubia " STENCILS BOOK(this book is dedicated by above authors to the people of Egypt and Sudan whose ancient culture inspired its creation).